Personal Information

Date of birth: 20 February 1978.
Place of birth: Shumen, Bulgaria.
Nationality: Turkish and Bulgarian (dual citizenship).

Education

Ph.D. in Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. (May, 2007)
M.S. in Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. (May, 2004)
B.S. in Physics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. (June, 2000)

Achievements and Grants

Fellowship of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK). (1995—2000)
Full scholarship of Bilkent University, Turkey. (1995—2000)
Graduation as the top student of the Department of Physics and the Faculty of Science of Bilkent University, Turkey. (2000)
Teaching Assistantship at Cornell University for 8 semesters. (2000—2007)
Research Assistantship at Cornell University for 6 semesters & 6 summers. (2000—2007)

Skills

Computer Skills: Good knowledge of scientific programming in FORTRAN and Mathematica; some experience in C, Maple and Matlab. Experienced in Unix/Linux/Windows operating systems; computer system administration experience.

Languages: Fluent in Turkish, English, and Bulgarian; some knowledge of Russian and Spanish.

Graduate Research (Cornell University, 2000—2007)

Interests: theoretical physics, astrophysics and applied math. In particular: hydrodynamics; electromagnetics; classical and quantum mechanics; programming; development of algorithms.

PhD thesis work: (under the supervision of Prof. Ira Wasserman.)

Precession of pulsars: Modeling the time of arrival residuals of pulsars in terms of precession of a rigid body. Analyzing data using the least squares method and Bayesian inference. Collaboration with Prof. Ira Wasserman (Cornell University) and Prof. Bennett Link (Montana State University). (Publication: Akgün et al. 2006, MNRAS, 365, 653)

Studies of neutron star interiors: The neutron star is modeled in terms of a fluid core (with superconducting and normal fluid regions) and a solid crust (with the possibility of a fluid ocean). Numerical and analytical calculations of the magnetic field and density perturbations. The project employs perturbation theory, magnetohydrodynamics, theory of elasticity, and variational calculus. Collaboration with Prof. Ira Wasserman (Cornell University). (Publication: Akgün & Wasserman, 2007, arXiv:0705.2195v2)

Undergraduate Research and Work Experience (1996—2000)

Quantum Mechanics: Superconductivity in small atomic clusters; investigating various models of the Hamiltonians in quantum mechanics describing small atomic clusters of up to 12 sites. (With Prof. Igor O. Kulik , senior project, Bilkent University, 2000)

Electromagnetics: Calculation of transmitted and reflected fields for an oscillating dipole on top of a surface. (With Dr. Chris M.J. Wijers; research at University of Twente, the Netherlands, 1999)

Optics: Development of software for reflectance and transmittance phenomena from a stack of silicon layers. (With Assistant Prof. Ali Serpengüzel, Bilkent University, 1998—1999)

Numerical Simulation: Simulation of time evolution of wave packets. Exploring ways to eliminate problems encountered in Fast Fourier Transform. Effects of absorbing potentials and filtering at grid boundaries. (Bilkent University, 1999)

Computer System Administration: Maintenance of the undergraduate (Unix/Linux/Windows) computer laboratory of the Faculty of Science. (Part-time job, Bilkent University, 1998—2000)

Teaching Experience & Outreach Activities (Cornell University)

Teaching Assistant (TA) and grader for undergraduate level astronomy classes for 4 academic years. Teaching weekly sections, leading observing sessions at Fuertes Observatory (Cornell University), and conducting experimental labs. Head TA for 2 semesters, coordinating work among the TA’s.

Volunteer for the Astronomy workshop of the Focus for Teens program at Cornell University, for two summers. The workshop aims at motivating high school students to pursue careers in astronomy.

Publications, Conferences and Talks

T. Akgün, B. Link, I. Wasserman, “Precession of the Isolated Neutron Star PSR B1828—11” (2006, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 365, 653; astro-ph/0506606).

T. Akgün, I. Wasserman, “Toroidal Magnetic Fields in Type II Superconducting Neutron Stars” (2007, arXiv:0705.2195v2).

NATO-Advanced Study Institute “The Electromagnetic Spectrum of Neutron Stars”, Marmaris, Turkey, June 2004. Poster presentation on “Precession of Pulsar PSR B1828—11.”

Talks at the Department of Astronomy, Cornell University: “Precession and Implications for Neutron Stars”, “Superfluidity in Neutron Stars”, “Pulsar Bow Shocks”, “Pulsar Wind Nebulae”, “Neutrino Driven Supernova Explosions”, “Magnetohydrodynamics of Neutron Stars”, “Neutron Star Polar Caps”.